Shloka 18
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
इन्द्रतीर्थेति विख्यात॑ त्रिषु लोकेषु मानद । तस्या जिज्ञासनार्थ स भगवान् पाकशासन:
indratīrtheti vikhyātaṃ triṣu lokeṣu mānada | tasyā jijñāsanārthaṃ sa bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: «Oh dispensador de honor, el vado sagrado llamado “Indratīrtha” es célebre en los tres mundos. Deseando conocerlo por completo, el divino Pākaśāsana (Indra) mismo partió con ánimo de indagar».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic attitude toward sacred places: true understanding comes through humble inquiry (jijñāsā). Even a great deity like Indra seeks knowledge by asking, implying that reverence is joined with the discipline of learning.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a celebrated pilgrimage site called Indratīrtha, famed in all three worlds, and states that Indra (Pākaśāsana) himself wished to know its significance and therefore undertook inquiry about it.